Part 1 (1/2)

The Beasts of Tarzan

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Chapter 1

Kidnapped

”The entire affair is shrouded in mystery,” said D'Arnot ”I have it on the best of authority that neither the police nor the special agents of the general staff have the faintest conception of hoas accomplished All they know, all that anyone knows, is that Nikolas Rokoff has escaped”

John Clayton, Lord Greystoke-he who had been ”Tarzan of the Apes”-sat in silence in the apart meditatively at the toe of his immaculate boot

His mind revolved many memories, recalled by the escape of his arch-enemy from the French military prison to which he had been sentenced for life upon the testiths to which Rokoff had once gone to compass his death, and he realized that what theby comparison hat he would wish and plot to do now that he was again free

Tarzan had recently brought his wife and infant son to London to escape the discoers of the rainy season upon their vast estate in Uziri-the land of the savage Waziri warriors whose broad African domains the ape-man had once ruled

He had run across the Channel for a brief visit with his old friend, but the news of the Russian's escape had already cast a shadow upon his outing, so that though he had but just arrived he was already conte an immediate return to London

”It is not that I fear for myself, Paul,” he said at last ”Many tins upon my life; but now there are others to consider Unless I h my wife or son than directly at me, for he doubtless realizes that in no other way could he inflict greater anguish upon o back to them at once, and remain with them until Rokoff is recaptured-or dead”

As these two talked in Paris, two other e upon the outskirts of London Both were dark, sinister-looking men

One was bearded, but the other, whose face wore the pallor of long confinerowth of black beard upon his face It was he as speaking

”You must needs shave off that beard of yours, Alexis,” he said to his conize you on the instant We ain upon the deck of the Kincaid, let us hope that we shall have with us two honoured guests who little anticipate the pleasant voyage we have planned for them

”In two hours I should be upon ht, if you follow my instructions carefully, you should arrive with the other, provided, of course, that he returns to London as quickly as I presume he will

”There should be both profit and pleasure as well as other good things to reward our efforts, my dear Alexis Thanks to the stupidity of the French, they have gone to such lengths to conceal the fact of my escape for these many days that I have had ample opportunity to work out every detail of our little adventure so carefully that there is little chance of the slightest hitch occurring to ood luck!”

Three hours later a er mounted the steps to the apartram for Lord Greystoke,” he said to the servant who answered his summons ”Is he here?”

The e, carried it within to Tarzan, as already preparing to depart for London

Tarzan tore open the envelope, and as he read his face hite

”Read it, Paul,” he said, handing the slip of paper to D'Arnot ”It has corah complicity of new servant Come at once-JANE”

As Tarzan leaped from the roadster that had met him at the station and ran up the steps to his London town house he was met at the door by a dry-eyed but almost frantic woman